Automatic crossing gate



Nov. 3, 1931. R. J. WlLSON 1,330,011

AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE 7 Original Filed Feb. 28. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Eli-g: v Y gwuentoz Nov. 3, 1931. ,.w s 1,830,011

AUTOMATIC CROSSENG GATE Original Filed Feb. 28, 1928 4 Sheets-SheehZ Nov. 3, 1931. R. .1. WILSON 1,830,011

AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE Original Filed Feb. 28, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 W i j g 7 5 1 e 5 I2 3 E z M I 55 5 2: A 27 fig. 5 .1 E; 72 2 3 4! o y :2 22 L J 5 Faberf J. Wf/SO/I Nov. 3, 1931.

Original Filed Feb. 28, 1928 R. J. WILSON AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT J. WILSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON I .AUTOIVIA'IIC CROSSING GATE Application filed February 28, 1928, Serial No. 257,642. Renewed March 30, 1931.

My invention relates to improvements in crossing gates, particularly to be used at highway and street crossings, at grade of railway tracks, and has for its primary object the automatic setting of the gate through electric contacts made by the approaching train to the grade or street or highway crossing, so that the gate will automatically be set and the crossing closed in advance of the arrival of the trains. Means also being provided to indicate to the operator of the train, and to,

indicate at either side of the grade crossing, that the crossing is open or closed by the usual signs of varicolored lights.

The invention in its preferred embodiment consists of a pit extending across the street or roadway at either side of the railway crossing in which is disposed a gate adapted to being vertically raised, posts being disposed at either side adapted to coact with the gate and maintain the same inalignment.

Lights are disposed withinthe posts for indicating that the gates are open or closed by the usual combination of red and green lights. Means being disposed within the pit for raising and lowering the gate. The. operating circuit being broken and completed through electric contacts disposed within the trackway of the railroad and lights being disposed along the track to indicate to the operator of the train the position of the automatic gate.

It is the primary purpose and object of my device to provide an automatic crossing gate that is substantial in construction, that will effect a substantial barrier to the passage of vehicles thereacross when the same is raised to operative position, that will be dependable in its operation, and that will be automatically raised and depressed by the entry and departure of the train through the electric stations disposed adjacent to the crossing at either side thereof, so that the approaching train will raise the gate and the departure of the train from the block, will lower or depress the gate into the pit provided for that purpose. i

A further object of my new and improved 59 invention consists in providing automatic means having for its object the prevention of accidents at railway grade crossings.

With these and incidental objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, anda preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specifica- 60 tion.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a top, plan View, of the location of the gate, illustrating the gate in depressed position. p I

Fig. 2 is a cross section View, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated, the same showing the gate depressed into the pit;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectionrview, taken on 7- line 3--3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated, indicating the .gate in raised position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view, taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the-direction 7 indicated. i

Fig. 5 is a top,plan View, of the posts, one of which is disposed at either end of the movable gate structure. a

Fig. 6 is a vertical, sectional view, taken so on line 66 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 7 is a sectional, side elevation, of the trip mechanism for making and breaking the electric contact to be made during the raising and lowering of the gate.

Fig. 8 is an electric wiring lay-out running from the track'to the gate.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

1 is a railway track and'Q is a highway street or grade crossing of the railway track, and 3 and 4 are automatic gates disposed within the roadway 2 to automatically open and close traflic upon the roadway 2 during 95 the period in which a railway train is in the block covered by the electric connections.-

In preferred embodiment I excavate a pit 5, transversely of the roadway 2 and at either side of the track and create waterproof 10 side and end walls 6 of any suitable material to maintain the same in a relatively water tight condition, the same being preferably made of concrete or masonry construction and place a top 7 and 8 at either side having substantial vertical walls 9 and 10 which are spaced apart at the top. earing plates 11 and 12 running across the roadway 2 at either side of the opening, the inner edges of which are spaced sufficiently apart to permit of the raising and lowering of the gate structure therebetween.

I form a structural frame 13 and place the same substantially near the end of the gate and journal therein a stub shaft 14 upon which is mounted a worm gear 15, here shown as being two in number. as illustrated in Fig. 3. Running longitudinally of the pit is a shaft 16 driven by an electric motor 17. The electric motor 17 has a flexible connection 18, disposed within the shaft to prevent undue strains in the shaft, should settlement occur within the supporting elements to which the same is fastened. Worms 19 and 20 are disposed upon the shaft and are adapted to coact with the worm gears and to drive the same when the electric motor 17 is energized. Crank pins 21 and 22 are dis posed within the worm gears and outwardly extend therefrom to which the connecting rods 23 and 24 are secured. The connecting rods 23 and 24 are secured to wrist pins 25 and 26, disposed within the gate structure 27. The gate structure 27 being adapted to being raised and lowered as the shaft 16 rotates the worm gears. The gate is normally in depressed condition as illustrated in Fig. 4, with the upper surface of the gate in register able alignment with the plates 11 and 12. disposed within the roadway 2. A groove 28 is disposed upon the roadway side of each post the same being metal lined, as illustrated at 29 in Fig. 5, to give a suitable bearing for the engagement of the gate therein. The end of the gate 30, engages within the slot and maintains the same in alignment. The gate 27 is preferably made of a plate 31 having reenforcing angle bars or other structural members 32 and 33, disposed either side of the top surface of the plate 31 and having a foot 34 disposed its lower side.

The connecting rods 23 and 24 are preferably made its upper end in two spaced side walls 35 and 36, as illustrated in Fig. 4, so that the gate structure is maintained therebetween, which maintains the gate structure in alignment.

The bottom portion of the pit preferably has inwardly sloping bottom wall surfaces to drain off any liquids being deposited therein to a common drain outlet 37.

The motor 17 is placed within a water tight compartment 38 and a removable lid 39 is placed thereover. The shaft 16 preferably passing through the wall 40 disposed between the motor pit and the gate pit.

Lighting and guide posts 41 and 42 are disposed at either side of the roadway and in registerable alignment with each other. Sets of lamps are disposed within each post, one of which set is illuminated at all times, the same bein adapted to being illuminated with a green lamp to indicate the roadway 2 is clear and that there are no trains within the block. When a train enters the block the red light circuit is energized and the red lights are illuminated and the green lights are extinguished, thus indicating that there is a train in the block and that the gate is to be opened. The circuits connected to the lamps in the posts disposed at either end of each gate and at either side of the railway track at the crossing, are also connected to lamps so disposed as to be readily seen by the operator of the train. As the train enters the block an illuminated lamp indicates to the train operator that he is approaching a grade crossing, and after entering the block the green lamps are then energized indicating to the train operator that the circuit has been energized and that the gate has closed the crossing and that the grade crossing is safe for the passage of the train. A heater is placed within the pit. The purpose of which is to maintain the pit at a temperature above freezing during the winter months. As the train leaves the block, the circuits are again reversed after the gate has been placed into depressed and normal inoperative position.

The electric contact switches 44 and 45 are contacted by a shoe or other suitable means carried on the train. A switch is provided within the gate structure to be operated by manual control.

lVhen contacts 44, 45 or 46 are closed electric current will flow from the main source of supply through the conduit 47, through one of the contact switches, as for instance switch 44, conductor 48, conductor 49, solenoid 50. conductor 51 and solenoid 52. This completes the circuit for operating one of the gates. The current is then conducted to the other gate by conductor 53, through solcnoid 54, conductor 55, through solenoid 56, and returned to the main supply 57.

The electric contact 44 is closed for suiiicient time to energize the solenoids and 56, causing their armatures 58 and 59 to close the motor switches 60 and 61 against springs 62.

As contacts 44 is only closed momentarily, a shunt circuit is provided to hold the motor switches 60 and 61 in closed position. A

conductor 63 leads from the motor side of the switches 60 and 61 to the solenoid 50, conductor 64, switch 65, conductor (36, switch 67 and returned to the motor switch 60 by conductor .58. Before this secondary electric esa-en circuit can be closed, both of the switches and 67 must be closed. Vhen contacts 44, 45 I and 46 are contacted, solenoid 52 is energized pulling the core 69 out of engagement with the switches 67 and 65 so that the secondary circuit can be completed.

\Vhen the switches 60 and 61 are closed the motor 17 is started into motion raising the gate 27. lVhen the gate 27 reaches the top or closed position, the core 69 of the solenoid 52, opens the switch 65 which breaks the electric circuit through the solenoid 50, allowing the motor switch 60 to be opened by the spring 62 which stops the motor 17. When the train has passed through the gates and contacts, the contact 45, the motor switch is again closed and solenoid 52 allows the switch 65 to close which completes the secondary circuit through the solenoid 50 thereby holding the motor swith closed until the gate is lowered at which time the switch 67 is opened by the solenoid core 69 opening the switch 67 demagnetizing the solenoid 50,

allowing the motor switch to be opened and stopping the motor 17.

I provide a signal system consisting of electric lamps 70 and 71, located within each guide post 41 and 42 and I also provide lamps 70A and 71A a predetermined distancedown the tracks 1. The lenses 7 2 corresponding to the lamps 70 and 71 are so arranged in color that the proper signals will be indicated in each direction when either of the lamps 70 or 71 are lighted.

When the gate 27 is in the lower position, as shown in Fig. 8, the foot 73 holds the switch arm 74 in contact with the contact 75 which closes the circuit through lamps 70 and 7 0A, indicating an open crossing. When the gate 27 is raised the foot allows the arm 74 to contact with the contact 76 by tension spring 77, closing the circuit through the lamps 71 and 71A indicating a closed crossing.

Where the trafiic is heavy and there is a constant raising and lowering of the gates to adequately take care of the trafiic, it may be found desirable to place an electric gong within the lighting circuit so that when there is a train within the block an audible sound may be made by the gong to prevent occu-' pants from passing the gate and entering upon the railway crossing. The gongs are shown upon the posts at 78.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as itis susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a pit disposed at either side of a railway crossing and submerged to grade of the roadway crossing the railway, spaced definite-walls disposed within the pit, the

'upperwalls tennina-ting in a vertically disdisposed withinthe pit, a worm gear jourfnaled relative to each of the frames, a common driving element for each of the worm "gears, an electric motor prime mover for'the driving element, means disposed at either side of the roadway and upon the railwaytrack, for making and breaking the energizing circuit leading to the prime mover, said prime mover being directly'seeured to the driving element for each of the worm gears, a gate structure secured to each of the gears by a link connecting the gate with each worm gear so that each complete cycle of the worm gears will raise and lower the gate to the normal position of being depressed within the pit.

2. .In a device of the class described, the combination of a gate structure, means for raising and lowering said gate within definite confines of travel,sa id power means consisting of an electric motor driving a power shaft having worm pinions coacting with worm wheels and worm gears to which the gate is secured by links so that each completecycle of the worm gears will raise and lower the gate to normal position and means disposed within the line of travel of cars on a railway for making and breaking the electric current for energizing the circuit and for illuminating a series of lamps disposed within the circuit.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pit disposed at either side of a railway crossing and submerged to the grade of the roadway crossing the railway, spaced definite walls disposed within the pit, the upper walls terminating in a vertically disposed slot disposed therebetween, a pair of frame structures disposed within the walls disposed within the pit, a worm gear journaled relative to each of the frames, crank pins disposed within said worm gears and outwardly extending therefrom, connecting rods secured to said crank pins, a gate structure secured to the connecting rod by wrist pins disposed within the gate structure, a common driving element, worm gears disposed upon the driving element adapted to of the worm gears which are so geared that each complete cycle of the worm gears will raise and lower the gate to the normal positionof being depressed within the pit.

4. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a pit disposed at either side of the railway crossing, consisting of side and end Walls of relatively water proof con struction and a top at either side having substantially vertical walls spaced apart at the top, a gate structure disposed Within the pit and adapted for vertical movement within the pit, definite confines predetermining the travel path of the gate when manipulated, wearing plates running across the roadway at either side of the opening and sufficiently spaced apart to permit the raising and lowering of the gate structure therebetvveen, a drain outlet disposed in the bottom of the pit, a heating element disposed within the pit, electric power means and associated elements for raising and lowering the gate when the motor is energized, electric contacts so arranged as to complete the circuit for energiing the motor within a predetermined sequence by a vehicle passing along the railway and electric lamps disposed within the electric circuits to be energized.

ROBERT J. WILSON. 

